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State Fiscal Stress Jeopardizes Centers
April 2, 2008
Every beetle is a gazelle in the eyes of its mother.
-Arab Proverb
The latest issue of the Early Care and Education Consortium Newsletter (March 28, 2008; www.ececonsortium.org), highlighted these state budget developments...

"States across the country are facing budget shortfalls, meaning fewer new initiatives and more calls for program cuts or fiscal restraint. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 21 states face combined deficits of at least $37 billion for FY 2009, and 17 states have made or proposed cuts to programs. As you well know, child care is often a target for these cuts. In several states, preK funding increases have been scaled back as well.

"In California, the Governor called for 10% across the board cuts to try to remedy the $16 billion budget gap. Several cuts directly impact children in child care. According to the California Budget Project, changes to the CalWORKs program will mean 200,000 fewer children will have access to child care; $198.9 million would be cut from child development program funding, impacting over 18,000 children; and $59.6 million would be cut from after-school programs.

"In the face of a $1.2 billion shortfall, Virginia lawmakers scaled back the Governor's $50 million proposed preK expansion, appropriating $22 million in additional money."




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Comments (2)

Displaying All 2 Comments
Donna McAndrew · April 02, 2008
Pittston, PA, United States


I find the cuts to programs that serve and support young children to be very upsetting, as we now know through research how important the first three to five years of a child's life are. Living in Pennsylvania, our govenor has taken a stand to support Pre-K and early childhood education. It would be a sin to have the crunch in the economy cause a crunch in the service and support to children and families. It is sad to say that some states may be following the lead of the federal government. The current administration has seen fit to cut funding for health care and education for young children and families. I hope this is not the trend. Hopefully a new administration will realize that the future is being built now and we need to give it the support necessary to make it successful. Every $1.00 spent on early childhood education will reap a $9.00 return in the future. It is a logical and necessary investment.

Kathi Hamilton · April 02, 2008
Step Ahead Preschool
Walnut Creek, CA, United States


I am holding in my hand the March 4, 2004 Serving Preschool Children Under Title 1 Non- Regulatory Guidance paper.

Laura Bush says and I quote "The years between birth and age five are the foundation upon which successful lives are built"...If you go to the internet and read up on the Good Start, Grow Smart program one of the outcomes is to reduce the number of families that cannot work because they cannot afford childcare to 1% by 2009.

I cannot for the life of me understand how this can happen when as said in your article programs are being cut across the United States.

I say "Put your money where your mouth is."



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